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The importance of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child for Canadian Children: The gap between promise and reality. Katherine Covell, PhD. Child rights violations. Disproportionately represented in: poverty low birth weight infant mortality child protection system
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The importance of the United Nations Convention on theRights of the Child for Canadian Children: The gap between promise and reality Katherine Covell, PhD
Disproportionately represented in: poverty low birth weight infant mortality child protection system juvenile justice system substance dependence youth suicide
Canada’s obligations • Implement the rights of the child progressively over time • Send reports to UN Committee on the Rights of the Child • Respond to reports from the Committee and improve performance
Rights of Protection Rights of Provision Rights of Participation
PROTECTION RIGHTSWhat children say about family violence Some people beat their kids, push them, slap them, kick them and everything – parents shouldn’t be allowed to hit their children Really bad violence happens in homes Parents fighting with each other is a type of violence that affects kids – you don’t have to be hit yourself to be affected by it
What children say about family violence Adults try to blame videogames and the internet. I think you learn more from your parents. Witnessing violence teaches you violence and makes you hate.
States with full prohibition on the use of corporal punishment against children 2011 South Sudan 2006-2010 Albania 2000- 2005 Hungary Congo Romania Costa Rica Ukraine Greece Iceland Liechtenstein Bulgaria Luxembourg Germany Spain Israel Moldovia Netherlands 1994-1999 Croatia New Zealand Cyprus Kenya Denmark Portugal Latvia Poland Togo 1983-1989 Austria Tunisia Finland Uruguay Norway Venezuela 1979 Sweden I
Children in care Slow removal Multiple moves Placed in hotels Transition to the street
Children in the justice system Cops defend using Taser on teen Taser used to break up teen brawl Teen youngest Taser-related death in Canada
Ashley Smith, New Brunswick Youth Centre My Life My life I no longer love Id rather be set free above Get it over with while the time is right Late some rainy night Turn black as the sky and as cold as the sea Say goodbye to Ashley Miss me but dont be sadImnot sad Im happy and gladImfree, where I want to be No more caged up Ashley Wishing I were free Free like a bird.
Typical statements from youth participants in the UN Study on Violence Against Children, North America Cops are really rough with kids. Cops are aggressive with kids, they slam you to the ground and when they strip search you they are rough. I was planning on killing myself in there
Chronic and early poverty affects Health School performance Behavior
Pediatricdental care To age: 19 British Columbia 18 Alberta, Saskatchewan Manitoba, Ontario New Brunswick 17 PEI, Newfoundland • Quebec Nova Scotia
Comparison of child care servicesUNICEF Sweden Germany Iceland Italy Denmark Japan Finland Portugal France Republic of Korea Norway Mexico Belgium Spain Hungary Switzerland New Zealand United States Slovenia Australia Austria Ireland and Canada Netherlands United Kingdom
Rights-based critical thinking “Her stepmother was very cruel and denied her right to be protected from abuse and it infringed article 31 when they didn’t let her go to the ball, because children have a right to play.”
Teacher comments “The more I let them participate in the class, the more they respect me – you’d think you’d be losing authority.” “Now I remember why I went into teaching – to make a difference.”
What would you change about your school? “I would like it if we had a hospital at the school. Then there would be no more eternity leaves – the teacher could have the baby at lunch time if there was a hospital and then come back to class. Too many teachers are on eternity leave and we miss them.”